DBS Accelerator now a year-round accelerator programme

Together with global innovation platform Nest, DBS Bank (Hong Kong) is now offering the DBS accelerator in Hong Kong as an "always-on" programme.

The move will enable fintech startups to explore collaborative opportunities directly with business units in the bank throughout the year, unlike traditional time-based accelerator models.

For the first round of applications that will be closed for review on 31 July 2017, the programme is looking for startups from seed through series B stages to apply new technologies to credit monitoring and decision making, digital banking experience, customer engagement as well as cryptocurrency and cybersecurity. This is because the bank believes that those areas will help it "transform and progress towards a fintech future", said DBS Bank (Hong Kong) CEO Sebastian Paredes.

Nest CEO Lawrence Morgan added: "We believe that open innovation and collaboration will enable and empower fintech startups and corporates to not only address changing consumer needs, but also to do so at a faster pace with more meaningful impact. We're excited to pioneer this new programme format with DBS to further this open innovation movement and achieve positive business outcomes for both DBS and FinTech startups around the world."